New Valley of the World Hall of Fame to induct four
SALINAS, CA Bruce Church, Russ Merrill, Gene Harden and Bud Antle will be the first inductees into the National Steinbeck Center's new Valley of the World Hall of Fame, complementing the Valley of the World Agricultural Wing and the innovative educational programs of the National Steinbeck Center, here.
Sun World names three new stone fruit marketer-licensees
Sun World International LLC, headquartered in Bakersfield, CA, has named three distributors as licensed marketers of its new stone fruit lines.
South Africa's Capespan Exports (Pty) Ltd. and Green Marketing International (Pty) Ltd, and Chiles Gesex S.A. are now eligible to export the new plum, apricot, peach and nectarine varieties grown by licensed Sun World producers, Sun World Senior Vice President David Marguleas announced May 24.
IN THE TRENCHES: Do we know what we're doing with organic produce?
No matter where you turn today, someone is talking about organic produce. It could be in a meeting or on a street corner.
The industry practices of handling organically grown fresh fruits and vegetables are many: It should be packaged. It should be loose. It should be segregated. It should be integrated. It should be branded. It should not be branded. It should have special colored stickers. It should not have any stickers. It should be priced higher. It should be priced the same. And the beat goes on.
Study shows contract pricing best for Salinas Valley's Iceberg lettuce
SALINAS, CA -- A yearlong profitability study of Salinas Valley's Iceberg lettuce quantifies what most Salinas Valley shippers have come to recognize: Forward contracts provide the best chance for profitability with their Iceberg lettuce programs.
Roland Fumasi, a graduate assistant at California Polytechnic State University, unveiled the results of his yearlong study May 24 to a contingent of about 25 Salinas Valley-based shippers, salespeople and growers.
House approves measure for Specialty Crop Block Grant funding
The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriation Committee approved the fiscal year 2006 funding bill May 25 for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food & Drug Administration. During the bill's consideration, the committee approved an amendment containing $7 million in funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grants authorized last year in the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act.
Supreme Court decision in beef case buoys commodity groups
May 23 was a good day for commodity promotion programs when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Beef Council program qualifies as "government speech" and thus is exempt from First Amendment challenges.
The ruling was the latest from the Supreme Court on the issue of mandatory funding of commodity promotion programs, and was a clear victory for the proponents of these programs that are typically under the purview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or state agricultural agencies.
Jim Gorny leaving IFPA for V.P. position at United
Jim Gorny, vice president of scientific and technical affairs for the International Fresh-cut Produce Association in Alexandria, VA, will depart the association to join Washington, DC-based United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association as vice president of quality assurance and technology. Dr. Gorny will fill the slot at United left vacant by the departure of Donna Garren, who earlier this year joined the National Restaurant Association.
Bolthouse Farms looking for suitors
Wm. Bolthouse Farms Inc., headquartered in Bakersfield, CA, and one of the larger carrot grower-shippers in the country, is looking to sell at least part of the firm, according to an article in the May 20 issue of the Bakersfield Californian.
'Good-looking crop' awaits harvest by Walla Walla sweet onion growers
WALLA WALLA, WA -- As mid-May weather brought rain showers and warm temperatures to the Walla Walla Valley, grower-shippers of the region's namesake sweet onions were universal in their optimism that this year's crop, which will be the 105th official, will be big in both volume and size profile.
Cameo drives increase in apple category
Cameo apples generated the largest percentage increase in both dollars and volume of all apple varieties during the first quarter of 2005.
Retail volume of Cameo apples increased 41.9 percent and retail sales dollars increased 29.5 percent nationwide from first quarter 2004, the highest of all apple varieties.